April 2021 - Retro Reminiscing Video and Pictures

Unexpected Disco Artists

When the Bee Gees went from a slow style of music to disco, I had to say that was unexpected disco. Since then, there have been a lot more unexpected disco experiences, more than you can believe!

I wasn’t surprised when Queen got into it. My dad’s favorite performers always got into it, like Al Martino And then Frank Sinatra. But who expected Ethel Merman??

Karen Carpenter released a solo album when her brother was in drug rehab. In order to get his blessings, she was not to do disco! I guess she didn’t listen. I shouldn’t have been surprised when Helen Redding released a disco song in 1976, but I was!

What about the soft rock sound of Seals and Crofts going disco in 1978? You’re The Love made it to number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was their last top 40 hit.

How about Kiss getting in the mix in 1978? Other rock band surprises were The Rolling Stones with Miss You, Emotional Rescue and then Hot Stuff. Many fans were disappointed by the band’s departure from rock and roll. The Kinks released I Wish I Could Fly Like Superman in response to their label Arista for a club-friendly sound. But totally unexpected was the Grateful Dead with Shakedown Street. Again, their label was Arista.
Their Deadhead fans called this song Dead Disco.

We shouldn’t be surprised at Paul McCartney by showing his music diversity with Goodnight Tonight. You’d think the Beach Boy’s surfer sound would be safe until they released the LA or Light Album in 1979. In 1980 J.Geils Band hit number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 with Come Back. One critic called it a Eurodisco experiment. This was one experiment I personally liked!

An unexpected joint venture was with Barbara Streisand with Disco Queen Donna Summer.

You know things went a little too carried away when Donna Summer joined forces with Rosie O’Donnell on her talk show!

Did I surprise you with the number of unexpected disco artists through the years? Did I forget anyone? Let me know in the comments below!

Music Memory-More Love

Kim Carnes’ version of More Love peaked at number ten on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1980. The song was written by Smokey Robinson to his wife Claudette Rogers Robinson who sadly had eight miscarriages . Claudette was part of the Smokey Robinson and the Miracles group and toured with them since 1957. She felt her touring with the band contributed to the miscarriages. Smokey wrote the song to tell her she did not let him down. She never toured with the band again but she did eventually have two healthy children, Barry named after Motown’s founder Barry Gordon and a girl named Tamla named after the Motown record label. Smokey’s version of More Love peaked at 23 on Billboard in 1967.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br8CGKOFjp4

Glassware Give-A-Ways

I just posted about dish night at the movie theaters back in the 30’s and 40’s posting pictures of what my mom collected along with dish promotions at supermarkets during the late 70’s. It reminded me of the glassware my mom collected through Duz laundry detergent. We kids had Cracker Jacks with a free prize inside and mom had Duz! During the 50’s Duz gave away towels and during the 60’s moved to glassware. I found pictures of the two styles we had in our home mom collected and share it with my brothers who were excited as I to see them again. They are the two in the top of the picture.

The bottom left picture were the glasses Shell Gas gave away during the 70’s and the bottom right photo was the Welch’s Jelly jars that became your free glassware!

I have four brothers so a family of seven had to make the dollar stretch. So if you had buy laundry detergent make it Duz for a free glass. Fill up the gas tank? Get another free glass. Buy jelly? Again, get a free glass. There were many other glass give-a-ways. How about the McDonald character glassware with a meal purchase? I have those tucked away in the attic! What give-a-way do your remember?

Dish Night At The Movies

Back in the depression era, money was extremely tight. Movie theaters lowered prices to as low as a dime, but it wasn’t until they introduced dish night that started bringing in full houses. Many of the dish and china companies were going out of business but many of the survived because of this promotion. The give-a-way was mostly to women and each week it was a different piece. My mom went every week and was able to put together a full collection. The promotion ran through the 40’s and even the 50’s. There were many patterns offered by the various theaters across the county.

Another dish give-a-way was by supermarket chains during the late 70’s. My mom’s story about collecting a full china set for free enticed me when the Finast Supermarkets gave away china each week with a purchase. I was unable to complete the set when I joined the Navy in 1977 but my mom completed it for me while I served our country. Many other food chains across the country gave away china during this timeframe.

With Covid keeping movie goers away for over a year, maybe dish night will make a comeback!

Mom’s china from the 30’s and 40’s dish night at the movies.

My china from Finast Supermarket back in the late 70’s.

Which Batmobile Would Win In A Race?

This is a fun what if scenario. A drag race between the 1989 Batmobile or the original 1966 version? It’s as classic as Ford versus Chevy since the 1966 was built on a 1955 Lincoln Futura chassis and the 80’s built on a Chevrolet Impala. Keep in mind these are replicas and neither had jet engines as depicted on TV or the big screen. Fun to watch regardless!

New Series- The Wrath of Ken

I’m pleased to welcome Ken Lynch to TheRetroSite.com! I’ve known Ken for over 40 years when we served together on an aircraft carrier while in the US Navy. Ken has a fun wit and has Andy Rooney-ish delivery in his observations of the world. Today’s observation is buying clothes during the pandemic.

The Acid Generation- Where Are They Now

If you were a hippy back in the 60’s you are now in your 70’s. Many could be in nursing homes now! Hard to believe! Well, here is a funny parody that aired on Saturday Night Live back in the 70’s.

Happy Brady Easter!

Maureen McCormick recently shared this publicity photo on social media of a 1972 Easter publicity photo. The Brady Bunch never did an Easter themed show but they are decked out in their Easter best! I wonder if they are wearing Buster Brown shoes? I guess mom (Carol Brady) took the photo as she is not in the photo!

Spaghetti Harvest-BBC April Fool Prank

In 1957, spaghetti was not a common food in Britain. It was mainly available in cans pre-made, so at the time not alot of people knew how pasta was made. The BBC made a three minute report on their show Panorama about a Swiss family harvesting their spaghetti from trees.

It was viewed by over 7 million people and the next day the BBC received hundreds of calls asking for the authenticity of the report or how they could grow their own spaghetti trees.

I remember my mom telling this story as a child and was happy to see it years later. CNN said “the biggest hoax that any reputable news establishment ever pulled” I’d say maybe second best right behind War of Worlds radio broadcast.